Container package with carrier and surrounding sleeve

ABSTRACT

A package for containers such as beverage bottles and cans includes a carrier with an array of loops, one loop provided for surrounding each container. A wide sleeve surrounds the group of containers held by the carrier. In a preferred arrangement, the carrier includes four rows of loops, with a handle extending upwardly between the middle two rows. The loops are disposed within the sleeve.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to packages for groups ofcontainers, and, more particularly, to plastic carriers having arrays ofloops for engaging and holding individual containers, particularly forlarge groups of containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Container carriers are used frequently to unitize a plurality ofcontainers, such as bottles or cans, into conveniently saleablequantities. Both paperboard and plastic are materials commonly used.Paperboard carriers generally comprise a box in which the containers areheld. The box may be totally enclosed, or may have an open top, withindividual compartments for each container. In an enclosed box, a handlein the form of an opening or slot in the box may be provided. In an opentop box, a handle can be extended upwardly between rows of the containercompartments. Disadvantages of paperboard carriers include excessmaterial and cost. Further, once opened, an enclosed box no longer holdsthe containers securely. An open top carrier can spill the contentstherein, if inverted.

[0003] Plastic carriers have achieved wide acceptance for theirperformance, light weight, low cost and versatility in being adapted forcontainers of different sizes and shapes. The general design for plasticcarriers includes the formation of apertures in a stretchable plastic.The apertures are sized and shaped to stretch around the periphery ofthe containers to be held, either bottles or cans. Automated machineryis available for attaching stretchable plastic carriers to containersquickly and efficiently.

[0004] For convenient carrying of a group of containers held by thecarrier, various types of hand-grasps are known. For example, it isknown to provide holes for finger-tip grasping of the package. It isalso known to provide a handle on the carrier, either along one side ofthe group of containers, or at the tops of the containers.

[0005] In one such known design, the carrier is formed from two webs ofplastic material juxtaposed over one another. Handle portions andcontainer engaging portions are stamped from the juxtaposed webssimultaneously. The webs are fused or welded along selected portions,such as by lamination. The resulting handle portion is thereby a doublethickness of material, and the container engaging portions freely dependfrom the remainder of the carrier, at each side thereof. The containerengaging portions are a single ply of material.

[0006] Rapid or instantaneous visual product recognition is an aspect ofmarketing for many beverage suppliers. While the containers individuallylend themselves to consumer identification, the area visible on any onecontainer within the group held by a carrier is small, potentiallylimiting the impact of the printed area, or “billboard”. In this regard,paperboard carriers have an advantage, in that the side of the box,whether of the enclosed type or of the open-top type, provides a unitarybillboard area. Shrinkable wraps have been used, and provide unitarybillboard areas. However, once breached, the integrity of the wrap as acarrier is lost, and all containers held therein may become free. Inaddition, shrink-wrap carriers are not aesthetically pleasing at theirends, and it is difficult to incorporate a handle with a shrink wrapcarrier.

[0007] A growing trend in the beverage industry is to group largerquantities of containers for sale. While plastic carriers, as describedabove, have been used for so-called twelve-packs, known carriers fortwelve packs commonly have been of the side handle variety. That is,with the containers secured in the carrier, and arranged in an uprightposition, the carrier handle is provided along one side of the group ofcontainers. In a carrying position, the containers are positionedhorizontally, at right angles to the upright position. For someconsumers, carrying beverage containers horizontally is uncomfortable,because of fear, largely groundless, that a container seal may rupture,spilling all or a substantial quantity of the beverage. Further, a largegroup of containers, whether bottles or cans, secured only bystretchable rings in an array of a plastic carrier, might have a feel ofinstability, with individual containers allowed to skew or twistrelative to other containers in the group.

[0008] What is needed in the art is a container package including aplastic loop array type of carrier having significant billboard area,and arranged for top handle carrying of a well-balanced and securelyheld group of containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention provides a plastic carrier with an array ofrings having one ring for each container, and a stretchable sleeve forsurrounding and securing the group of containers, while also providing alarge informational billboard on each side of the group of containers.In a preferred arrangement, the containers are held in four rows, with atop handle extending upwardly between the middle two rows.

[0010] In one form thereof, the invention provides a package for a groupof containers including individual containers to be held in rows andranks. The package has an integral plastic carrier including a containerholding portion of interconnected stretchable loops. One loop isprovided for each container, with each loop surrounding a different oneof the containers. A handle portion is connected to the containerholding portion. The handle portion extends upwardly between adjacentrows of containers, to above tops of the containers. A sleeve ofstretchable material surrounds the group of containers.

[0011] In another form thereof, the invention provides a package for agroup of individual containers arranged in at least four rows, with aplurality of containers in each row. A stretchable array ofinterconnected loops has one loop for each container. Each container isdisposed in a separate loop that surrounds the container. A handle issubstantially parallel to the rows and is connected to the array. Thehandle is disposed between adjacent rows of containers and extendsupwardly between the containers, with two of the at least four rows ofcontainers on each side of the handle.

[0012] In a further form thereof, the invention provides a carrier for agroup of containers with an array of interconnected loops arranged inrows and ranks. The array includes four rows. A handle is connected tothe array, with two rows disposed on each side of the handle.

[0013] Other features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art, upon review of the followingdetailed description, claims and drawings, in which like numerals areused to designate like features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container package in accordancewith the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a plan view of a carrier in the container package shownin FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carrier shown in FIG. 2, withcontainers retained therein; and

[0017]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a containerpackage in accordance with the present invention.

[0018] Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangements of thecomponents set forth in the following description, or illustrated in thedrawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of beingpracticed or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understoodthat the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose ofdescription, and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of“including” and “comprising” and variations thereof herein is meant toencompass the items listed thereafter, and equivalents thereof, as wellas additional items and equivalents thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] Referring now more specifically to the drawings and to FIG. 1 inparticular, a container package 10 in accordance with the presentinvention is shown. Package 10 includes a carrier 12 and a sleeve 14. Inthe exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, package 12 is providedfor a so-called twelve pack, and is shown for packaging a plurality ofindividual containers 16 into a group 18 of containers 16. However, itshould be understood that the present invention can be usedadvantageously for packaging more or fewer containers 16 than the twelvepack shown. Further, while package 12 is illustrated for packagingindividual containers 16 in the form of bottles, package 12 can be usedfor packaging containers 16 other than bottles. For example, package 10can be used also for packaging cans.

[0020] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, carrier 12 is illustrated.Carrier 12 includes a handle portion 20, a container holding portion 22and a truss-like suspension portion 24 connecting handle portion 20 tocontainer holding portion 22. The actual configuration of carrier 12will vary depending on the size, type and quantity of containers 16 tobe held in carrier 12. In a preferred design for carrier 12 to hold atwelve pack as illustrated, carrier 12 is a two-ply structure having afirst sheet 26 and second sheet 28. In FIG. 2, only a first sheet 26 isreadily visible, with second sheet 28 disposed directly there behind.First sheet 26 and second sheet 28 are connected by one or more welds30, 32, two such welds 30 and 32 shown in the drawings. The manner inwhich such welds can be made is well-known to those skilled in the art,and may include the application or extrusion of material between firstsheet 26 and second sheet 28, to cause the sheets to fuse together. Asillustrated, welds 30 and 32 are provided, respectively, near a top ofhandle portion 20 and a bottom of suspension portion 24. An additionalweld or welds may be provided between those illustrated. Handle portion20, container holding portion 22 and suspension portion 24 are formed asintegral portions of each sheet 26 and 28. Welds 30, 32 bond sheets 26and 28 such that the portions 20, 22 and 24 of each form a singleintegral carrier 12.

[0021] Suspension portion 24 is a double thick layer that includes aplurality of struts 34, 36 and 38, including first and second end struts34 and 36, respectively, and a plurality of intermediate struts 38formed in each first sheet 26 and second sheet 28. Suspension portion 24essentially connects handle portion 20 with container holding portion22.

[0022] Handle portion 20 includes a handle opening 40 formed through thedouble layer of first sheet 26 and second sheet 28. Handle portion 20extends upwardly from suspension portion 24, and in an assembled package10, the top of handle portion 20 is above the tops of containers 16 sothat handle opening 40 is readily accessible for grasping by a personcarrying package 10.

[0023] Container holding portion 22 comprises an array 50 of individualloops 52 formed in rows 54, 56, 58 and 60 parallel to handle portion 20;and ranks 62, 64 and 66 perpendicular handle portion 20. In theembodiment of carrier 12 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, two of therows 54 and 56 are provided on one side of handle portion 20, and two ofthe rows 58 and 60 are provided on the opposite side of handle portion20. As those skilled in the art will understand, each row of loops 52 isa single-ply layer of material, rows 54 and 56 being formed in firstsheet 26 and rows 58 and 60 formed in second sheet 28.

[0024] Each loop 52 is configured to be stretched and totally surroundan individual container 16. Voids 68 are provided in sheets 26 and 28 toallow stretching and shaping of loops 52, as necessary, to surroundindividual containers 16. The material for sheets 26 and 28 is bothflexible and resilient, permitting significant stretching withoutbreaking. Low-density polyethylene is a suitable plastic from whichcarrier 12 can be made.

[0025] Sleeve 14 is formed as an endless band surrounding the perimeterof group 18 of containers 16 held by carrier 12. Sleeve 14 has a topedge 80 and a bottom edge 82, with an open top 84 and an open bottom 86.Containers 16 extend above top edge 80 and below bottom edge 82, throughopen top 84 and open bottom 86, respectively. Sleeve 14 has a sleeveheight 88 between top edge 80 and bottom edge 82. Preferably, sleeveheight 88 extends a substantially portion of the overall height ofcontainers 16.

[0026] Sleeve 14 can be formed from a strip of stretchable materialformed into an endless band by bonding ends of the strip at a seam 90.At least an outer surface 92 of sleeve 14 is adapted for receivingprinting thereon, the attachment of labels, or for holding othervisually communicative indicia. Sleeve 14 thereby provides an enlargedbillboard area 94 for the printing of consumer information, logos orother product identification features to promote consumer recognition.

[0027] In a preferred structure of package 10, array 50 is disposedwithin sleeve 14. That is, loops 52 engage containers 16 at a positionon containers 16 between the level of top edge 80 and bottom edge 82. Ina contemplated procedure for using package 10, sleeve 14 is appliedafter carrier 12 has been attached to individual containers 16. Sleeve14 is stretched to surround group 18 of containers 16, and is positionedthere around to cover carrier 12. The application of carrier 12 toindividual containers 16 to form group 18, and the placement of sleeve14 around group 18 can be performed with automated equipment known tothose skilled in the art.

[0028] In addition to providing an enlarged billboard area 94, sleeve 14stabilizes group 18, minimizing the degree to which individualcontainers 16 can twist or skew relative to other containers 16 withingroup 18. The cooperative association of carrier 12 and sleeve 14provides a firm, stable feel to the package, increasing the comfort andconfidence of consumers carrying the package. The arrangement ofcontainers 16 in group 18 having four rows 54, 56, 58 and 60, with threecontainers 16 in each row, also provides a well-balanced, stable group18. Providing handle 20 in the middle of group 18, with two rows 54 and56 on one side of handle 20 and two rows 58 and 60 on the other side ofhandle 20 further aids in balancing group 18 for easy carrying.

[0029] The combination of a carrier 12 and sleeve 14 can be used inother configurations than the four row, three rank group 18 illustratedin FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a secondembodiment of the invention provides a package 120 including a carrier122 and a sleeve 124. Carrier 122 is provided with loops 126 that arearranged in two rows 128 and 130 parallel to a handle 132 of carrier122.

[0030] In package 120, sleeve 124 surrounds the perimeter of containers16 held by carrier 122 in group 18. Sleeve 124 thereby providesstability to package 120, while additionally providing an enlargedbillboard area for advertising and marketing benefits.

[0031] The present invention provides improved stability of largepackages such as twelve packs, by providing an encircling band forstabilizing containers held in a carrier. The band provides space foradvertising and product recognition information.

[0032] Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within thescope of the present invention. It is understood that the inventiondisclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations oftwo or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from thetext and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitutevarious alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodimentsdescribed herein explain the best modes known for practicing theinvention, and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize theinvention. The claims are to be construed to include alternativeembodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.

[0033] Various features of the invention are set forth in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A package for a group of containers includingindividual containers to be held in rows and ranks, said packagecomprising; an integral plastic carrier including a container holdingportion of interconnected stretchable loops, one said loop for each saidcontainer, each said loop surrounding a different one of saidcontainers, and a handle portion connected to said container holdingportion, said handle portion extending upwardly between adjacent rows ofcontainers, to above tops of the containers; and a sleeve of stretchablematerial surrounding the group of containers.
 2. The package of claim 1,said container holding portion having two rows of loops on each side ofsaid handle portion.
 3. The package of claim 1, said sleeve having a topedge and a bottom edge, and a sleeve height between said top edge andsaid bottom edge, and said sleeve height substantially covering saidcontainers.
 4. The package of claim 3, said container holding portionhaving two rows of loops on each side of said handle portion.
 5. Thepackage of claim 4, said container holding portion disposed within saidsleeve.
 6. The package of claim 1, said container holding portiondisposed within said sleeve.
 7. The package of claim 1, said sleevehaving a top edge and a bottom edge, and a sleeve height between saidtop edge and said bottom edge, said sleeve height being a substantialportion of a height of the containers, and said sleeve providing aninformational billboard surface thereon.
 8. The package of claim 7, saidcontainer holding portion disposed within said sleeve.
 9. The package ofclaim 1, said sleeve having an outer billboard surface adapted forcarrying visually communicative markings thereon.
 10. A package ofcontainers, comprising; a group of individual containers arranged in atleast four rows, with a plurality of containers in each said row; astretchable array of interconnected loops, one said loop for each saidcontainer, each said container disposed in a separate said loopsurrounding said container; and a handle substantially parallel to saidrows and integrally connected to said array, said handle disposedbetween adjacent rows of containers and extending upwardly between saidcontainers, with two of said at least four rows of containers on eachside of said handle.
 11. The package of containers of claim 10, eachsaid row including three said containers.
 12. The package of containersof claim 10, including a stretchable sleeve surrounding said group ofcontainers.
 13. The package of containers of claim 12, said arraydisposed within said sleeve.
 14. The package of containers of claim 13,each said row including three said containers.
 15. A carrier for a groupof containers, comprising; an array of interconnected loops arranged inrows and ranks, said array including four said rows; and a handleconnected to said array, with two said rows disposed on each side ofsaid handle.
 16. The carrier of claim 15, each said row including threesaid loops.
 17. The carrier of claim 15, said handle being connected tosaid array by a suspension portion, said array said suspension portionand said handle being integrally formed.
 18. The carrier of claim 15,said array and said handle being of stretchable plastic.
 19. The carrierof claim 18, each said row including three said loops.
 20. The carrierof claim 19, said handle being connected to said array by a suspensionportion; said array, said suspension portion and said handle beingintegrally formed.